Updated 11:45 PM
SYRACUSE -- Syracuse voters have picked Democrat Stephanie Miner to be the first female mayor of Syracuse.
Miner won with 50% of the vote, defeating Steve Kimatian, a businessman and former television executive, and former city parks director Otis Jennings, who ran on the Conservative Party line after losing to Kimatian in September's primary run-off.
With 100% of the precincts reporting in, Kimatian stood at 40%, while Jennings finished third with 10%.
Miner refused to make an issue of her gender during her run for City Hall, but at her election headquarters Tuesday night she proudly thanked the women in her life that gave her the confidence to become the first woman mayor of Syracuse. Standing in front of a packed room at the Syracuse University Sheraton hotel filled with friends, family and campaign supporters Miner said, "For all of you who convinced girls to believe... I'm standing here because women like you believed."
Miner stood above the crowd triumphantly knowing her determination, hard work and commitment had paid off. She was the candidate who was interested the earliest in becoming the next mayor. She was the candidate with the largest network of supporters that continued to grow. She was the common councilor who intimately knew the challenges the city faces and the areas for optimism. She was well funded, articulate and had the most detailed plan of attack for the city's future.
Miner also had a three to one advantage in registered Democrats over Republicans. Considering the registration disparity credit goes to Republican Steve Kimatian for pulling in close to 40% of the vote. He hit points that resonated with voters about his ideas for running city government more like a business. Otis Jennings settled for 10% of the vote on the conservative line. He once again showed his exceptional warmth and personal skills as a candidate.
Back to the buzzing room at the Sheraton Tuesday night... Miner had just finished thanking the influential women in her life including her grandmothers when she made a point of thanking the men too, including her husband Jack Mannion. Referring to some of the criticism she took during the campaign she said thank you to men "who are smart enough to get involved with temperamental women."
In the hallway leading to the mayor's office there is a wall of fame of sorts. Photos of all of the past mayors hang there. They are mostly in black and white. There's William Walsh, Lee Alexander, Tom Young, Roy Bernardi, Matt Driscoll and now they will add Stephanie Miner. She is immediately stakes out new ground in that lineage. Now it is her opportunity to deliver at a crucial time for the future of the city.
The 39-year-old city councilwoman is the first woman elected mayor in Syracuse's 161-year history. She's also the first woman elected mayor in any of upstate New York's Big Four cities -- Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
